Characterization of the PTEN signaling biochemical effects on mice hippocampi under intermittent diet

• Grant number: 13/20594-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2013
• End date: November 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Biochemical and Molecular Pharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Cristoforo Scavone
• Grantee: João Victor Cabral Costa
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 11/21308-8 - Evaluation of PTEN compartmentalization on neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity influenced by environmental factors, AP.JP

Abstract

First discovered by its tumor suppressor function, the phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) has been deeply studied due to its influence over cellular proliferation, survival, and migration processes, thus showing great potential as a modulator of neurogenesis - both in embryological and adult lives - and potentially of synaptic plasticity. Furthermore, it is well known that environmental factors - such as intermittent diet - can also modulate neurogenesis, having many other benefic effects, e.g. an increase in life expectancy, neuroprotection against inflammatory processes, and even a decrease in memory and learning deficits associated with aging. With the use of the conditioned knockout mice, it is possible to work around the problem of embryological lethality of the total PTEN deletion, allowing a more detailed study of its physiological functions. Thus, taking into consideration the relevance of the hippocampal region to neurogenesis during adult life and its key role in cognition, this project will make use of this animal model in order to evaluate the PTEN effects on hippocampi from mice undergoing the intermittent diet. Therefore, the aim of this study is to further characterize the PTEN signaling pathways and their correlation with the well-studied intermittent diet effects, contributing to a better understanding of the potential interventions targeting the prevention or the treatment of diseases related to the central nervous system or even to the tumor formation process. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CABRAL-COSTA, J. V.; ANDREOTTI, D. Z.; MELLO, N. P.; SCAVONE, C.; CAMANDOLA, S.; KAWAMOTO, E. M.. Intermittent fasting uncovers and rescues cognitive phenotypes in PTEN neuronal haploinsufficient mice. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v. 8, JUN 5 2018. (13/20594-2, 15/25491-2, 14/18689-8, 16/22996-9, 11/21308-8)